News

Padmore & Kane Kick Off 2012 in Style

12th March 2012

British sportscar racer Nick Padmore and co-driver Gary Kane made a superb start to their 2012 Radical UK Cup campaign by taking 3rd place in Round 1, and winning Round 2 of the championship, at Snetterton 300 last weekend. The results also marked an impressive debut for the all-new RAW Motorsport squad.

Padmore was on for class pole for Race 1 in qualifying, had he not been held up by another car on the final corner of his last hot lap, and had to settle for 2nd on the grid.

With Kane starting the 40-minute sprint race, he completed his stint trouble-free and kept their Radical SR3 up in P2 before handing over to Padmore.

However, as Reigate's Padmore tried to leave the pits the starter motor failed, meaning the car had to be bump-started and cost the team an extra 15-seconds.

He eventually rejoined in 3rd position and made a move for 2nd at Coram with three laps to go but got boxed in and had to lift off, allowing the rival car of Alex Kapadia and Tom Jordan to slip by. Padmore managed to get passed in the closing stages of the race and grabbed the last podium spot just 1.7 seconds behind Kapadia.

In the second of the weekends Radical UK Cup races, Padmore started in P2 but lost ground when he found himself forced on to the grass in the hectic start. However he managed to get back up to 2nd before handing the reigns over to Kane.

Kane kept up the pace and put in a perfect stint, taking the lead, the win and put their entry at the top of the SR3 class championship standings.

Nick Padmore: "It's been great to come back to Radicals and immediately be back on the pace and I'm very impressed at how well everything has worked out today. Gary (Kane) drove faultlessly in both races and I'm delighted for everyone at RAW Motorsport with the results we've achieved today. Gary in particular has had a very successful weekend by also taking 3rd and 2nd in the Clubman's Cup races so well done to him.

"The racing is very different to what I've been used to for the past five seasons in V de V where the races can run up to 6-hours. With these 40-minute sprint races, the time is more valuable and requires a more aggressive driving style, so I feel I drove better in Race 2 because I had a better idea of what to expect.

"I've really have enjoyed this weekend - it's great to be a part of such a competitive championship as the Radical UK Cup, and hope this is just the start of good things to come this season."

Padmore heads to Oulton Park this weekend for the Masters Historic Festival, where he will be sharing with his dad Keith in their privately-run 1965 Mini Cooper S in the 50-minute Pre-'66 Touring Car race. The event takes place on Saturday with qualifying at 09.20 and the race at 13.30.